Slotting cutter

ABSTRACT

A slotting cutter and a method for constructing the slotting cutter. The slotting cutter is structurally divided into two portions, a central adapter portion and a cutter portion. The central adapter portion is a disk with an F-type or S-type adapter. The cutter portion is an annular ring provided with cutting insert receiving pockets, or cartridge receiving pockets. The cutter portion and a body portion are manufactured separately and combined to form the slotting cutter by a heat shrinkage method.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to slotting cutters and a methodfor constructing such slotting cutters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Slotting cutters can be left handed, right handed or neutral,depending on the location of cutting inserts on the slotting cutter'souter periphery. In addition they generally come with two differenttypes of adapter, referred to herein both in the specification andclaims as “S-type” and “F-t-ype” adapters. An “S-type” adapter is acentral opening centered at the slotting cutter's axis of rotation,designed to receive an arbor connected to a spindle. An “F-type” adapteris a generally cylindrical central protrusion at the slotting cutter'scentral opening constituting an arbor for connecting to a spindle.

[0003] A major problem in the cutting tool industry is that of supplytime. Typically, the conventional supply time for a slotting cutter,from the time of order, is four to eight weeks. An obvious way ofreducing supply time to an absolute minimum would be to manufacture allthe various types of slotting cutters and store them. As soon as anorder is placed by a client for a given number of slotting cutters, theyare retrieved from storage and supplied to the client. However, takinginto account the many types of slotting cutters that would have to beproduced and stored (left handed, right handed and neutral, with either“S-type” or “F-type” adapters), such a simplistic approach has adisadvantage that it would place heavy demands both on storage space andfinancial investment.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide slottingcutters and a method for producing such slotting cutters in which thesupply time is considerably less than the conventional supply time andin which the aforementioned disadvantage is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Slotting cutters in accordance with the present invention arestructurally divided into two portions, a central adapter portion and acutter portion. The central adapter portion comprises a disk with anF-type or S-type adapter. The cutter portion is an annular ring providedwith cutting insert receiving pockets, or cartridge receiving pockets.

[0006] Thus in accordance with the present invention there is provided aslotting cutter comprising a cutter portion affixed to a body portion;

[0007] the body portion comprising a disk having an outer peripheralsurface with a first diameter and a central portion provided with anadapter;

[0008] the cutter portion comprising an annular ring having an innersurface with a second diameter and an outer portion provided withrecesses;

[0009] the cutter portion being formed of a material having thermalcharacteristics such that the application of heat thereto causes thermalexpansion thereof, thus allowing the support member of the body portionto be positioned inside the cutter portion, and cooling thereof causesthermal contraction thereof, whereby the cutter portion is rigidlyaffixed to the body portion.

[0010] Further in accordance with the present invention there isprovided method for constructing a slotting cutter comprising the stepsof:

[0011] providing a body portion comprising a disk having an outerperipheral surface with a first diameter and a central portion providedwith an adapter;

[0012] providing a cutter portion comprising an annular ring having aninner surface with a second diameter and an outer portion provided withrecesses, the cutter portion being formed of a material having thermalcharacteristics such that the application of heat thereto causes thermalexpansion thereof; and

[0013] affixing the cutter portion to the central body portion by:

[0014] applying heat to the to the cutter portion;

[0015] positioning the body portion inside the heated cutter portion;and

[0016] allowing the cutter portion to cool, thereby causing thermalcontraction thereof, whereby the cutter portion becomes rigidly affixedto the body portion.

[0017] Typically, the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

[0018] Preferably, the slotting cutter is provided with an axialsecuring arrangement for ensuring that the cutter portion is securedagainst axial movement relative to the body portion.

[0019] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the axial securing arrangement comprises at least twocountersunk through bores extending from the front face of the supportmember to the outer peripheral surface thereof that mate, when the bodyportion is positioned inside the heated cutter portion, with at leasttwo depressions provided on the inner surface of the cutter portion andcountersunk head screws screwed into the at least two countersunkthrough bores and engaging a rear section of the at least twodepressions

[0020] Typically, each countersunk through bore has a longitudinal axisthat makes an acute angle α with a normal to the front face of thesupport member.

[0021] Preferably, the slotting cutter is provided with a rotationalsecuring arrangement for ensuring that the cutter portion is securedagainst rotational movement relative to the body portion.

[0022] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the rotational securing arrangement comprises a protrusionprotruding from the outer peripheral surface of the support member,which protrusion engaging an indent on the inner surface of the cutterportion.

[0023] If desired, the recesses are insert receiving pockets.

[0024] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the recesses are cartridge receiving pockets for receivingcutting insert receiving cartridges.

[0025] If desired, the slotting cutter is provided with right-handcutting insert receiving cartridges.

[0026] Further if desired, the slotting cutter is provided withleft-hand cutting insert receiving cartridges.

[0027] Yet further if desired, the slotting cutter is provided with bothleft-handed and right-hand cutting insert receiving cartridges.

[0028] In accordance with one embodiment, the adapter of the slottingcutter is an S-Type adapter.

[0029] In accordance with another embodiment, the adapter of theslotting cutter is an F-Type adapter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] For a better understanding the invention will now be described,by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

[0031]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slotting cutter with an F-typeadapter;

[0032]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slotting cutter with an S-typeadapter;

[0033]FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of a slotting cutter with anF-type adapter;

[0034]FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of a slotting cutter with anS-type adapter;

[0035]FIG. 5 is a side exploded view of a slotting cutter with an S-typeadapter;

[0036]FIG. 6 is a sectional view indicated by the line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

[0037]FIG. 7 is a sectional view indicated by the line VII-VII of FIG.5; and

[0038]FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail of a portion of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] Attention is drawn to the drawings, showing two basic types ofslotting cutters, 10 and 12, that are differentiated by their adapters.In the following description the same reference numeral will be used toindicate identical features or elements of the two slotting cutters.Features or elements that are not identical but perform a similarfunction in each of the slotting cutters, will be referred to by thesame name and will be designated by the reference numeral n with respectto the first type of slotting cutter and designated by the referencenumeral n+100 with respect to the second type of slotting cutter.

[0040] The first type of slotting cutter 10 has an F-type adapter 12 andwill therefore also be referred to as an F-type slotting cutter. Thesecond type of slotting cutter 110 has an S-type adapter 112 and willtherefore also be referred to as an S-type slotting cutter. Each type ofslotting cutter comprises a cutter portion 14 and a body portion 16(116) which are manufactured separately and combined to form theslotting cutter by a heat shrinkage method, as will be described ingreater detail below. The body portion 16 (116) comprises a disk-likesupport member 18 having front and rear faces 20 and 22, respectively,an outer peripheral surface 24 of diameter D1 and a central portion 26provided with an adapter. The adapter 12 of the F-type slotting cutter10 extends rearwardly from the rear of the support member 18, whereasthe adapter 112 of the S-type of slotting cutter 110 is substantially ofthe same thickness as the support member 18, slightly protruding fromthe front and rear faces 20 and 22, respectively (see FIG. 6).

[0041] A thin lip 27, having a forwardly facing location surface 28,extends radially from the rear face 22 of the support member. Fourcountersunk through bores 30 extend from the front face 20 to the outerperipheral surface 24. In the drawings the countersunk through bores 30are shown to continue on from the outer peripheral surface 24 to the lip27. It should be noted that this if for convenience of production only.In principle, it is sufficient that the countersunk through bore 30extend from the front face 20 to the outer peripheral surface 24. Eachcountersunk through bore has a longitudinal axis A that makes an acuteangle α with a normal N to the front face 20. Each countersunk throughbore 30 has a forward countersunk portion 32 and a rear screw threadedportion 34. The support member 18 has a protrusion 36 protruding fromthe outer peripheral surface 24. The function of the countersunk throughbores 30 and of the protrusion 36 will be described below with referenceto an assembled slotting cutter. For convenience of production, theprotrusion is manufactured by first forming a bore at the periphery ofthe support member and then forcibly urging a pin into the bore so thatpart of the pin protrudes beyond the outer peripheral surface 24.

[0042] The cutter portion 14 has the form of an annular ring having aninner surface 38 with a diameter D2 and an outer portion provided withrecesses 40. The diameter D2 of the inner surface 38 of the cutterportion 14 is smaller than the diameter D1 of the outer peripheralsurface 24 of the support member 18. Preferably, the recesses arecartridge receiving pockets for receiving cutting insert receivingcartridges. Either right-hand 42, left-hand 44, or both right-hand andleft-hand insert receiving cartridges can be mounted in the recesses 40.However, the recesses 40 can also be designed as insert receivingpockets for directly mounting cutting inserts therein. The cuttinginserts 45 can be of any desired design, with the cutting insertreceiving cartridges accordingly designed.

[0043] The cutter portion 14 is provided with four depressions 46 on itsinner surface 38, that are designed to mate with the four countersunkthrough bores 30 when assembling the slotting cutter. An indent 48 onthe inner surface 38 of the cutter portion 14 is designed to mate withthe protrusion 36 protruding from the outer peripheral surface 24 of thesupport member 18 of the body portion. The mating indent-protrusioncombination provides a rotational securing arrangement that ensures thatin the assembled slotting cutter the cutter portion 14 will not rotaterelative to the body portion 16.

[0044] In accordance with the present invention, body portions 16 (116)and cutter portions 14 are manufactured separately and slotting cutters10 (110) are constructed by affixing the cutter portions to the bodyportions using a heat shrinkage process. Heat is applied to a cutterportion 14 until its diameter D2 is greater than the diameter D1 of thesupport member. The support member 18 of the body portion 16 is thenpositioned inside the cutter portion 14, with the protrusion 36 engagingthe indent 48, and urged toward the lip 27 until the cutter portionabuts the location surface 28. Clearly, the radial extension of the lip27 has to be sufficient to ensure such abutment. The lip 27 has to besufficiently thick so as to enable it to withstand any axial forceapplied to it by the cutter portion 14. As the cutter portion cools itcontracts and becomes rigidly affixed to the body portion.

[0045] After assembling the slotting cutter as described above, acountersunk head screw 49 is placed in each countersunk through bore 30and is screwingly engaged by the rear screw threaded portion 34. Thecountersunk head screw 49 is tightened until it engages the depression46, on the inner surface 38 of the cutter portion 14, and abuts a rearsection 47 of the depression. As the countersunk head screw is tightenedit applies a force to the cutter portion 14, the axial component ofwhich ensures that the cutter portion 14 is secured against axialmovement relative to the body portion 16 in a direction away from thelocation surface 28. The angle (x is preferably chosen to give rise to amaximal axial component of the force applied by the countersunk headscrew.

[0046] Finally, right-hand 42 and/or left-hand 44 insert receivingcartridges are affixed, by means of screws 50, to the recesses 40 tocomplete the construction of the slotting cutter 10 (110).

[0047] Although the present invention has been described to a certaindegree of particularity, it should be understood that variousalterations and modifications can be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A slotting cutter comprising a cutter portion affixed to a bodyportion; the body portion comprising a disk having an outer peripheralsurface with a first diameter and a central portion provided with anadapter; the cutter portion comprising an annular ring having an innersurface with a second diameter and an outer portion provided withrecesses; the cutter portion being formed of a -material having thermalcharacteristics such that the application of heat thereto causes thermalexpansion thereof, thus allowing the support member of the body portionto be positioned inside the cutter portion, and cooling thereof causesthermal contraction thereof, whereby the cutter portion is rigidlyaffixed to the body portion.
 2. The slotting cutter in accordance withclaim 1 , wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.3. The slotting cutter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the slottingcutter is provided with an axial securing arrangement for ensuring thatthe cutter portion is secured against axial movement relative to thebody portion.
 4. The slotting cutter in accordance with claim 3 ,wherein the axial securing arrangement comprises at least twocountersunk through bores extending from the front face of the supportmember to the outer peripheral surface thereof that mate, when the bodyportion is positioned inside the heated cutting portion, with at leasttwo depressions provided on the inner surface of the cutter portion andcountersunk head screws screwed into the at least two countersunkthrough bores and engaging a rear section of the at least twodepressions.
 5. The slotting cutter in accordance with claim 4 , whereineach countersunk through bore has a longitudinal axis that makes anacute angle α with a normal to the front face of the support member. 6.The slotting cutter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the slottingcutter is provided with a rotational securing arrangement for ensuringthat the cutter portion is secured against rotational movement relativeto the body portion.
 7. The slotting cutter in accordance with claim 6 ,wherein the rotational securing arrangement comprises a protrusionprotruding from the outer peripheral surface of the support member,which protrusion engaging an indent on the inner surface of the cutterportion.
 8. The slotting cutter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein therecesses are insert receiving pockets.
 9. The slotting cutter inaccordance with claim 1 , wherein the recesses are cartridge receivingpockets for receiving cutting insert receiving cartridges.
 10. Theslotting cutter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the slotting cutteris provided with right-hand cutting insert receiving cartridges.
 11. Theslotting cutter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the slotting cutteris provided with left-hand cutting insert receiving cartridges.
 12. Theslotting cutter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the slotting cutteris provided with both left-handed and right-hand cutting insertreceiving cartridges.
 13. The slotting cutter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adapter of the slotting cutter is an S-Type adapter. 14.The slotting cutter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein, the adapter ofthe slotting cutter is an F-Type adapter.
 15. A method for constructinga slotting cutter comprising the steps of: providing a body portioncomprising a disk having an outer peripheral surface with a firstdiameter and a central portion provided with an adapter; providing acutter portion comprising an annular ring having an inner surface with asecond diameter and an outer portion provided with recesses, the cutterportion being formed of a material having thermal characteristics suchthat the application of heat thereto causes thermal expansion thereof;and affixing the cutter portion to the central body portion by: applyingheat to the to the cutter portion; positioning the body portion insidethe heated cutter portion; and allowing the cutter portion to cool,thereby causing thermal contraction thereof, whereby the cutter portionbecomes rigidly affixed to the body portion.
 16. The method inaccordance with claim 15 , wherein the first diameter is larger than thesecond diameter.
 17. The method in accordance with claim 15 , whereinthe slotting cutter is provided with an axial securing arrangement forensuring that the cutter portion is secured against axial movementrelative to the body portion.
 18. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the axial securing arrangement comprises at least twocountersunk through bores extending from the front face of the supportmember to the outer peripheral surface thereof that mate, when the bodyportion is positioned inside the heated cutter portion, with at leasttwo depressions provided on the inner surface of the cutter portion andcountersunk head screws screwed into the at least two countersunkthrough bores and engaging a rear section of the at least twodepressions.
 19. The method in accordance with claim 18 , wherein eachcountersunk through bore has a longitudinal axis that makes an acuteangle α with a normal to the front face of the support member.
 20. Themethod in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the slotting cutter isprovided with a rotational securing arrangement for ensuring that thecutter portion is secured against rotational movement relative to thebody portion.
 21. The method in accordance with claim 20 , wherein therotational securing arrangement comprises a protrusion protruding fromthe outer peripheral surface of the support member, which protrusionengaging an indent on the inner surface of the cutter portion.
 22. Themethod in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the recesses are insertreceiving pockets.
 23. The method in accordance with claim 15 , whereinthe recesses are cartridge receiving pockets for receiving cuttinginsert receiving cartridges.
 24. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the slotting cutter is provided with right-hand cutting insertreceiving cartridges.
 25. The method in accordance with claim 15 ,wherein the slotting cutter is provided with left-hand cutting insertreceiving cartridges.
 26. The method in accordance with claim 15 ,wherein the slotting cutter is provided with both left-handed andright-hand cutting insert receiving cartridges.
 27. The method inaccordance with claim 15 , wherein the adapter of the slotting cutter isan S-Type adapter.
 28. The method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein,the adapter of the slotting cutter is an F-Type adapter.